Preschool & Kindergarten Options

Preschool - little girl looking at globe

Educational studies indicate that the earlier a child can participate in a structured learning opportunity the better the chances of success. Providing learning opportunities for our community’s younger children is a priority for LPS.

Elementary principals say that having preschool, as well as, before- and after-school childcare, is important for families with young children.

  • Preschool programs are available for children who are three years old by October 1st
  • Students who turn five years of age by October 1st attend kindergarten.

Preschool Registration

2024-2025 Preschool Registration Update for children who will attend preschool the year before entering kindergarten

Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) began funding at least 10 hours per week of high-quality, voluntary preschool for every child in Colorado for the year before entering kindergarten. 

To learn more about Colorado’s new Universal Preschool Program, visit the Universal Preschool for Littleton Families website.


The Village Preschool

For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact the Director, Tracey Hansen at 303-347-4419, or by email thansen[at]lps.k12.co[dot]us

Centennial Academy of Fine Arts 
For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact the Director, Rachel Wilson, at 303-347-4127 or by email at rmwilson[at]lps.k12.co[dot]us

Littleton Preparatory Charter School
For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact the Pre-K Director, Aimee Dierking at 303-734-1995 extension 278, or by email at adierking[at]lps.k12.co[dot]us

 

Preschool Enrollment for 3 Year Olds: Please contact the preschool for more information
Please contact the individual sites for more information on enrolling. 

 

Image of colorful crayons

 

Kindergarten - students and teacher

At Littleton Public Schools, we pride ourselves on kindergarten programs that are child-centered and meet the needs of the whole child. Children receive a balanced program to meet their individual needs for cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth. Our goal is to start our youngest learners on the road to a lifetime of success through a love of learning.

The state of Colorado funds full-day kindergarten programs in its public schools. Because we believe strongly in the importance of early childhood education, all LPS elementary schools provide free full-day kindergarten.  In addition, all LPS elementary schools offer tuition-based before- and after-school childcare. Please visit specific school websites for more information.

Students are eligible for kindergarten if they turn five years of age on or before October 1 of the year of enrollment. 

FIRST STEPS...
Kindergarten today is more academic and more challenging than programs of the past. While still based on an atmosphere of inquiry and play, it is the kind of active learning that teaches children to think, solve problems, share ideas, and learn language development skills. As your child’s first teachers, you can help prepare your child for kindergarten. 

Creative Expression
Children at the kindergarten level need to have their creative skills challenged. Exposure to many types of learning helps to develop the whole child.

  • Encourage your child’s natural curiosity about his or her world by asking questions and pointing out things to see, hear, touch, taste, and smell.
  • Encourage painting, use clay, draw with chalk, markers, and crayons.
  • Encourage dramatic play such as pretending, playing dress-up, setting up housekeeping, playing school, and playing with small objects, such as cars, blocks, etc.
  • Sing songs, dance, listen to all types of music and play rhythm instruments.
  • Tell stories or have your child finish a story you start.

Language Arts

  • Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are all important to your child’s development and success in school.
  • Talk with your child and listen carefully to what he or she says so you can have meaningful conversations with your child.
  • Read aloud with your child every day for at least 20 minutes.
  • Encourage your child to predict what will happen while reading stories and to retell the story.
  • Play rhyming games with words.

Writing

  • Help your child practice writing his or her name.
  • Practice writing notes, letters, and stories, even if your child uses pretend writing or scribble writing.
  • Allow your child to dictate stories and letters or notes while you write them down.

Mathematics

  • Kindergarten math builds the groundwork for later mathematical understandings. Working with objects and manipulatives, grouping, sorting, problem-solving, patterning, and estimating are all part of the kindergarten curriculum.
  • Play counting games.
  • Sort and group stuffed animals, cereal pieces, candy, rocks, and toys.
  • Practice address and phone number.
  • Practice writing numbers to ten.
  • Create patterns with simple objects. 

 

Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten registration will be held for each elementary school  starting on December 1. You can register your kindergartner by completing an online pre-registration form and emailing all documents to the school registrar (link).

STEP ONE:

Families/Students New to LPS  

  • Complete the online pre-registration form
  • Complete the registration process by submitting all required documents if not uploaded during the pre-registration process to the school registrar (link)
  • Complete this pre-registration process before January 17, 2024. 

Existing LPS Families

  • Log in to Campus Portal, (https://littletonco.infinitecampus.org/campus/littleton.jsp).
  • Click on the "menu" icon at the top left corner. 
  • Choose "More" from the list. 
  • Click on the link "New Student Registration" to open the pre-registration page. 
  • Complete the registration process by submitting all required documents if not uploaded during the pre-registration process to the school registrar (link)

STEP TWO:
Attend Kindergarten Information Session for your elementary school before January 17th.  Please check your school's website for dates and times of information sessions.  

BEGINNING JANUARY 30, 2024:
After January 27, Kindergarten Registration will take place by contacting the district registrar at districtregistrar[at]lps.k12.co[dot]us or call 303-347-4360 for further information.

WHAT WILL I NEED TO PROVIDE? 
To complete the registration process, please complete and email or drop off the online pre-registration form and all documentation to your child's school of attendance. Documentation to be included:

  • A printed copy of your online preregistration, which you completed and printed at home
  • Birth certificate
  • Immunization records
  • Proof of residency (house contract, deed, utility bill or lease agreement)
  • Emergency contact information
  • Parent Identification, i.e. driver’s license

Click here to review Registration Procedures and learn more!

Kindergarten boy on the playground     Kindergarten students learning on tablets

Kindergarten Information Nights and Registration Days/Hours for the 2024-2025 School Year


Centennial

School Tours
~ongoing as needed
Please call office to schedule

Information Night
January 10, 2024
5:30-7:00 p.m.


Field

Information Night
January 11, 2024
6:00-7:00 p.m.


Ford

Kindergarten PARENT Tours
December 4, 2024
3:30 p.m.

December 7, 2024
9:30 a.m.

Information Night
January 11, 2024
6:00-7:00 p.m.


Gaskill

School Tours
December 21, 2023
8:30-9:00 a.m.

Information Night
January 11, 2024
5:30-6:30 p.m.


Hopkins

Information Night
January 11, 2024
6:00-7:00 p.m.


Lenski

Information Night
January 11, 2024
5:30-6:30 p.m.


Little Raven

Information Night
January 11, 2024
6:00-7:00 p.m.


Runyon

Information Night
January 10, 2024
6:00-7:00 p.m.


Sandburg 

Information Night
January 11, 2024
5:30-6:30 p.m.


Wilder

Information Night
January 11, 2024
6:00-7:00 p.m.


Village Early Childhood Education

Preschool Information Night
December 7, 2023
6:00-7:00 p.m.